Nerve damage is not normal

Most people don’t give much thought to the nerves in their feet or hands until they start acting up.

Maybe it begins with a light tingling in your toe or a numb patch on the bottom of your foot. These may seem like small annoyances, but they’re actually your body’s way of waving a red flag. They could be signs of peripheral neuropathy, a condition that affects millions of Americans but often goes undiagnosed until it’s advanced.

Majority of patients I’ve seen in my office seek help when their symptoms begin to affect their daily lives. They may not be able to balance well, do chores without pain, or sleep through the night due to pain. However, it is not their fault their nerve damage progressed as the warning signs can often be subtle or just chalked up to “old age.” The earlier nerve damage is caught, the easier it is to treat. So here are some warning signals that often correlate with peripheral neuropathy.

Neuropathy simply means “nerve damage.” Peripheral neuropathy happens when the nerves that send signals between your feet/hands and your brain become injured or stop functioning the way they should. These nerves are responsible for everything from sensation and balance to muscle strength and healing. The tricky part is that neuropathy often develops slowly.

Early symptoms of peripheral neuropathy might include numbness, tingling, burning, or sensitivity to touch in the hands and feet. I frequently hear that a patient’s feet would tingle sometimes over the years, but it didn’t last long nor occur often, so they just assumed it was due to the long walk they did the day before.

Another example would be a patient’s feet aching at night or becoming sensitive to the sheets. However, that was assumed to be from the chores done that day as “I’m not as young as I used to be.” Arguably the most frequent comment I hear is a patient’s change in balance but that’s “just part of getting old.” While there is truth to this in some situations, these are examples of warning signs of nerve damage.

These warning signs should never be ignored. These examples can be from peripheral neuropathy but may also be due to other conditions, so it is important to get an evaluation to diagnose if there is an underlying issue. Nerve damage doesn’t heal on its own, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to reverse.

The good news is that early intervention can make a huge difference. New, non-invasive therapies such as laser treatments, circulation-boosting therapies, and decompression techniques are showing promising results in helping nerves heal and restore proper communication.

The key is not to wait. If you’re noticing tingling, burning, numbness, or balance problems, get evaluated as soon as possible. Too many people dismiss these symptoms as “just part of getting older,” but nerve damage is not something you have to live with. The earlier you take action, the more likely you are to keep your independence, stay active, and avoid long-term complications.

Your nerves are trying to tell you something. Listen to them and get an evaluation by a doctor/professional you trust to see if you have peripheral neuropathy and what they may do to help.

Dr. Kenneth Horup, DC is a Chiropractic Physician at Discover Specific Chiropractic, Board Certified in Neuropathy.